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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. G. G. BURTON.

ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION WHEEL 0R TROLLEY.

Patented Apr. 30, 1895.

fw.' me o M52@ (N0 Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 2.

C. C. BURTON. ELEGTRIGITRANSMISSION WHEEL 0R TROLLEY.

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NiTED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES C. BURTON, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF FOUR- FIFTHS TO CURTIS G. HUSSEY AND JOHN C. DES GRANGES, OF SAMEV PLACE, LEWIS. E. HOLDEN, OF BELOIT, WISCONSIN, AND GEORGE M. LUD- LOW, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION WHEEL ORTROLLEY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 538,408, dated April 30, 1895.

Application filed August 11, 1894. Serial No. 520,075. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES C. BURTON, a resident of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Electric Transmission Wheels or Trolleys; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,

clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to electric current 1o transmitting wheels, or, as they are sometimes termed, trolleys, its principal object being to form a trolley which insures considerable contact surface betweenthe wheel and the conductor and so overcomes the diiculty ofx5 sparking or other like difficulties arising from imperfect or insufficient contact between the traveling trolley and the conductor along which it travels. This is a well-known difficulty encountered in all trolley or electric zo roads obtaining their current through the medium of traveling-contact wheels; and it prevents a continuous current to the motor, and also leads to waste of the current, as weli as having otherl objectionable features. In my improved contact wheel in which these objections are overcome I provide a wheel with a series of yielding contact blocks around its rim which are properly cushioned and are pressed back by the conductor so that two or 3o more of these blocks are brought into contact therewith, the contact of a considerable surface of the wheel upon the conductor being thus obtained. These contact blocks are also preferably provided with hinged contact 3 5 pieces or shoes which can swing so as to bring their outer faces into line and contact with the conductor so that the faces of such contact blocks for their full width arein contact with the conductor, and a broad surface con- 4o tact for the taking up, or thc discharge of the current is in this way insured.

My invention also relates to the method of mounting such trolley or contact wheel, especially where it forms a contact under the car and by ahorizontal movement toward the conductor.

The particular points of the invention desired to be covered will be hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed.

To enable others skilled in the art `to make and use my invention, l`wili describe the same more, fully referring to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a cross-section of a line of track,

showing the car and the trolley-Wheels in op- 5 ying a liat surface to contact with a flat faced conductoras it has been devised more particularly for use of conductors under the track, such as illustrated in Fig. 1, in which the car or locomotive wheels a travel on rails a supported a sufficient distance above the ground on any suitable trestle A to permit the employment of inclined wheels b supported from the car or locomotive bodv A', and bearing on rails b', so as to hold the car or locomotive from rising. Though the trolley wheels particularly illustrated in the drawings were devised for use with such form of apparatus, yet it is of course to be understood that they may be employed in any desired position to contact with any desired conductor C, whether the trolley wheel have flat contact faces or grooved faces such as usually employed with wire conductors or contact faces of other forms.

The trolley wheeld is shown as running upon a stud or axle e hung from a framef which stud and frame will be hereinafter more particularly described.

The trolley Wheel in its preferred construction has the hub d', the spokes d2 extending out and connecting with the rim g, the spokes cl2 being preferably formed of wrought metal bars or plates which,'in the preferred construction, converge from the hub to the rim, the rim in the construction illustrated being formed of two T-shaped hoops or bars g which are connected at short intervals with each other by means of rivets g2 passing through such T-shaped hoops or bars and through ferrules or distance sleeves g3 holding the T-shaped bars g the proper distance apart. These rivets and their surrounding sleeves also form the guides for the sliding bars and contact blocks hereinafter referred to. It will be noticed that the T-shaped bars g have their outer faces concave so that each such bar forms a seat g for the yielding cushion, or, as it might possibly be termed, yielding tire Zt, which, if desired, may be of pneumatic form so as to provide the necessary cushion for the contact blocks k.

Within the body of the wheel a short distance back from the edge thereof is an annular collecting plate Z (formed of copper or other good conducting metal) extending entirely around the body of the wheel and supported in any suitable way from the rim such as by brackets Z extending inwardly from one or both of the T-shaped bars g to which annular plate the current. is carried by the contact blocks, and from which plate a conductor Z2 extends to the commutator m on the hub e. Suitable insulating material m is interposed between the hub e and the'com mutator m, while an insulating sleeve m2 surrounds the boltm3 which connects the commutator to the hub and wheel. vThe annular plate Z is also provided with the guide lugs Z3 which, in connection with the rivets g2 form the guides for the contact blocks k which will now be described. Each such contact blocks consists of the sliding barn and the shoe or contact piecep which are pivoted together at Zt sothat the shoe swings on the sliding bar so as lo conform itself to the conductor C supported in the main framework A,and in contact with which the trolley isintended to be held, the shoes p being pushed against the cushion tires Zt and swinging on the sliding bars 'n so that by the pressure of the wheel upon the conductor, the full surface of the shoe is brought into contact with the conductor. The sliding bar is guided by the rivets g2 and by the hook n which passes over to the opposite side of the plate Z and enters between the guide lugs Z3 so assistingin guiding the sliding bar and performing the other function of limiting the outward movement of the contact block.

It is of course to be understood that the shoe p has the concave inner face or faces p to tit around the yielding tire 7i, the tire being in this way held between the concave seat g of the rim and the concave inner faces ofthe Contact pieces which are confined upon it by the sliding bars, the only requirement being that they shall have sufficient movement'to permit the swinging of each shoe to conform itself to the face of the conductor.

The form of the shoe, and, indeed, of the general construction of the bars above described, may be changed to suit the use, the shoe having the grooved face, as shown in Fig. G, if desired, or,if desired a single yielding cushion between the rim and tire being employed, such construction being of course more desirable in a smaller trolley wheel. Any suitable form of yielding cushion for the contact blocks or means of mounting the blocks to obtain the peculiar movement described, may be employed; an example of a different way of mounting them being shown in Fig. 7, in which seats u are formed in the tire; and each sliding baart' enters one such seat, said blocks extending through a cusln ioning spring LZ2 confined within the seat and being held by a nut resting against the inner face of the wheel rim.

Around the hub of the wheel and connected to the plate Z by the conducting bars Z2 is the commutator 'm above referred to which can be made of any suitable form and from which the current taken up by the wheel can be gathered by simple brushes orto which the current caribe carried by brushes to the wheel contacting with the conductor of the return circuit.

In order to properly support the trolley wheel and hold it in contact with the conductor, it is preferably supported in the following way: The stud e above referred to, extends down from a sliding frame fr which frame is mounted to slide on bars fr secured in brackets Ir2 rhavi ng an insulated connection with the car body A. Surrounding the guide bars fr', of the frame and between said sliding frame and the inner bracket r2 are the springs s which exert sufficient force to hold the trolley wheel in contact with the conductor and depress several of the contact blocks as the wheel travels along the conductor, the pressure of these springs being controlled when desired by collars s held by set screws to the guide bars r.

It is of course to be expected that suitable means for lubricating the trolley wheel on the stud or axle e be provided, and I will now deF scribe the means preferably employed for this purpose. The hub CZ has secured thereon in any suitable manner the axle box or lining cZswhich is turned to tit the axle e. Said axle e extends below the wheel, having the threaded boss e', around which the nut t screws, said nut extending below the lining Z3 and the hub cZ of the trolley wheel, and supporting the wheel on the axle e. The axle e is provided with a central oil chamber c2 which extends from a point above the trolley wheel at which the oil can be properly fed thereto through the axle and its threaded boss at the base thereof; and at suitable intervals oil passages are formed extending through frornthe oil chamber e2 to the outer face of the axle to carry the lubricant through to the bearing between the hub lining and the axle. Surrounding the boss e and nutzt where they extend below the hub is the oil cup t which cup IOC IZO

is secured to the hub by an annular flange t2 suitable packing t3 being inserted between said flange and the hub so as to form a close joint. In this way the oil can circulate through the numerous oil passages fromthe oil chamber e2 into the bearing and descend between the hub lining d3 and the axle into the cup t', which cup retains the oil, the oil flowing thence back into the oil chamber e2 through the boss c. rlhe nut may be locked upon the boss inany suitable way, such as by a pin e4 extending through both nut and boss.

Vhen the trolley wheel above described is in use where it makes a side contact with a flat faced conductor, as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, as the car or locomotive travels along the track, the springs s pressing on the trolley frame r force the wheel carried thereby against the conductor C with sufficient force to depress two or more of the contact blocks, the springs s being generally adjusted to keep three of these blocks in contact with the conductor. As the contact blocks k are depressed their sliding bars n slide back in the guides above described and their shoes or contact pieces p swing on the pivots k', so that they conform to the conductor, the faces of three or more of such shoes being in this way always held in contact with the conductor, for the full length thereof, so that a flat contacting surface of a considerable area for the taking up or discharge of current is always provided. In the wheel as designed, a depression of the contact pieces of about one-tenth of an inch provides for a flat contact of three contact blocks with the conductor giving a contact about four and one-half inches in length, and enabling nie to carrythe current to and from the car, without fear of loss through sparking or insufficient contact. The cushion tires h yield of course when the contact blocks are depressed, serving to give the necessary movement to each block and to hold it, through the pushing action, in contact with the conductor. These cushion tires may of course be formed of simple solid rubber annulus though to obtain the most desirable yielding action they are made hollow and filled with air. These cushioning tires, or other cushioning means, may be depended upon entirely for the cushioning action to give the yielding movement to the blocks, but in view of the swinging of the car it is preferred to employ the sliding frame r for the support of the trolley wheel, and the springs s above described. The current taken up by the trolley wheel passes back along the contact blocks to the copper collecting plate Z and thence through the conductors Z2 to the commutator m from which it is co1- lected and carried to the motor on the locomotive or car; and the return current is discharged in like manner passing from the brushes to the commutator and thence along the conductor Z2 and collecting plate, to the contact blocks and to the return conductor along which that trolley wheel travels. As the trolley wheel revolves upon the axle or stud e it is properly lubricated in the manner above described, and the oil is confined by the oil cup so that it may be used over and over again, and the oil for lubrication is only required at long intervals.

The invention maybe employed in connection with the ordinary trolley wheel traveling in contact with a wire conductor as illustrated in Fig. 6, and in that case, the trolley wheel is supported on asuitable arm and is mounted in suitable Way, the construction of the parts being practicallythe same except that grooved Contact pieces or shoes are employed, as shown in said Fig. 6. In asmallerand lighter wheel,

the single T-shaped rim, with the concave p seat and a single cushioning tire, may beeinployed as illustrated in said gure. In this way I am enabled to obtain the full contact of a series of fiat faces upon the conductor and to provide a contact between the conductor and trolley wheel which insures perfect contact at all times and so overcomes the sparking and other difficulties usually found in trolleys traveling along conductors.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An electric current transmitting or trolley wh eel having a rigid rim with a seat in the outer face thereof, a rubber tube around said rim, fitting in said seat, and a series of contact blocks mounted in the rim and extending over such rubber tube, substantially as set forth.

2. An electric current transmitting or trolley Wheel having a rigid rim with a seat in the face thereof; a rubber tube around the said rim and a series of contact blocks mounted to slide in the rim and extending over the rub.

ber tube, substantially as set forth.

3. An electric current transmitting or trolley wheel having a series of yielding contact blocks at the rim thereof formed of bars mounted t'o slide in the rim and of shoes pivoted on the bars, substantially as set forth.

4. An electric current transmitting or trolley wheel having a rigid rim with a seat in the face thereof, a cushioning tire mounted in said seat and a series of contact blocks formed of sliding bars mounted in the rim and shoes pivoted on the bars and extending over the cushioning tire, substantially as set forth.

5. An electric current transmitting or trolley wheel having a rigid rim provided with two con cave seats, cushioning tires fitting therein and a series of contact blocks having sliding bars between said cushioning tires and shoes pivoted to said blocks and extending over each cushioning tire, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of awheel body having the rigid rim formed of T-shaped bars g connected by a series of rivets, the annular plate Zhaving guide pieces thereon, and the con- Ioo tor;

IIO

tact blocks having bars extending between the rivets and the guide pieces on the annular plate, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination with a wheel body having bars provided with hooks at their inner ends extending back of said annular plate, the ends of the hooks extending between the guide pieces of the annular plate substantially as set forth.

9. The combination with a wheel having the rigid rim provided with a concave face, a cushioning tire fitting in said face and the contact blocks having concave inner faces fitting around such cushioning tire, substantially as set forth.

l0. An electric current transmitting or trolley Wheel having a rigid rim, a series of yielding contact blocks mounted in said rim, a separate current collecting plate within the rim with which said blocks contact, and a conductor extending from the annular plate to the wheel hub, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I, the said CHARLES C. BURTON, have hereunto set my hand.

CHARLES C. BURTON.

Witnesses:

RoBfr. D. TOTTEN, ROBERT G.'ToTTEN. 

